How to Get Paid Off Threads

You can absolutely make money on Threads, and you don’t need hundreds of thousands of followers to do it. This guide skips the generic advice and gets straight to the actionable strategies creators and brands are using right now to turn their text-based banter into real income. We'll cover everything from building a foundation that attracts brands to the specific direct and indirect methods for monetization.

Building a Threads Presence Brands Want to Pay For

Before you can monetize, you need an audience that listens. But forget vanity metrics. Brands don’t just pay for follower counts, they pay for engaged communities. The real goal is to build an account that serves a specific audience with a clear purpose.

Define Your Niche and Value

You can't be everything to everyone. Your first step is to get laser-focused on what you talk about and who you're talking to. A generic "lifestyle" account is much harder to monetize than an account dedicated to a specific topic.

• Who is your audience? Are they freelance graphic designers, new parents trying to eat healthy, or fans of vintage sci-fi novels? Get specific.
• What problem do you solve for them? Do you provide career advice, share simple recipes, or recommend hidden gems?
• What is your unique perspective? Two people can discuss marketing, but one might have a data-driven approach while the other focuses on creative storytelling. Your unique POV is your selling point.

Your Threads bio is your elevator pitch. It should instantly tell a visitor who you are, who you help, and what they can expect from following you. Don’t be vague. Instead of "Marketing Tips," try "Helping early-stage startups with no-fluff growth marketing strategies."

Cultivate Genuine Engagement

An engaged following of 1,000 people who trust you is far more valuable than 10,000 followers who barely notice your posts. Engagement tells brands that your audience actually listens to you.

• Start conversations, don't just post statements. End your threads with a question to prompt replies.
• Respond to comments. When someone takes the time to reply, acknowledge them. This fosters a sense of community.
• Engage with others. Don't just post and ghost. Spend time replying to threads from others in your niche. Thoughtful responses build visibility and relationships.

Consider two accounts. Account A has 20,000 followers and gets 5-10 likes and 1 comment per post. Account B has 2,000 followers but regularly gets 100+ likes and 20-30 comments. Brands will choose Account B every single time because its audience is active and loyal.

Direct Monetization: Getting Paid on the Platform

Direct monetization involves an explicit transaction where you are paid for content you create on Threads. These methods are the most straightforward, but they rely on the foundation you've built.

Affiliate Marketing: Earning Commissions on Recommendations

Affiliate marketing is promoting other companies' products or services. When someone makes a purchase through your unique referral link, you earn a commission. It's a powerful way to monetize because it feels genuine - you're just sharing things you already use and love.

How to get started with affiliate marketing:

1. Find Programs: Most brands have affiliate or partner programs. Think about the tools, software, clothing, books, or products you already recommend. Check the footer of their website for a link that says "Affiliates" or "Partners." Popular networks like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, and Rakuten are also great places to start.
2. Integrate Links Naturally: Threads is a conversational platform, so your promotions should be too. Avoid spamming links. A good approach is to share value first, then mention the product as part of the solution.

Example: a web developer could post a thread like:

"I get asked all the time how I manage my project timelines without losing my mind. My simple 3-step process:

1. Break down every project into the smallest possible tasks.
2. Assign each task a deadline in Trello.
3. My secret weapon: I use a focusing app to block out distractions for 2 hours every morning.

That third step has been a complete game-changer for my productivity. A link to the app I use is in my bio if you want to check it out." (You then place your affiliate link in your bio link).

This provides real value, then an authentic recommendation. It’s helping, not just selling.

Sponsored Posts & Brand Deals

This is what most people think of when they hear "influencer marketing." A brand pays you to create a post (or series of posts) featuring their product or service.

How to Land Brand Deals on Threads:

• Build a Portfolio of Quality Content: Brands want to see that you can create engaging content that aligns with their identity. Your existing threads are your resume. Make them count.
• Create a Media Kit: A media kit is a simple one-to-two-page PDF that acts as your professional overview. It should include your bio, audience demographics (if you know them), key engagement stats (like average replies/likes), and your rates for different types of collaborations. You can create one easily with a tool like Canva.
• Pitch to Brands You Love: Don't wait for brands to find you. Make a list of 10-20 brands you already use and admire. Find the marketing manager or partnerships contact on LinkedIn and send a concise, professional cold email. Show them you understand their brand and have a clear idea for how you could promote them to your audience.

Remember, your pitch shouldn't be about you, it should be about them. What value can you provide to their business?

Indirect Monetization: Using Threads as a Funnel

Often, the most sustainable way to get paid off Threads is to use it as a tool to drive traffic to your own business ventures off the platform. Here, Threads is the top of your sales funnel, where you build trust and awareness.

Selling Your Own Products or Services

This is where you have the most control and the highest profit potential. You're not relying on anyone else's commission rates or campaign budgets. Your Threads account becomes the primary marketing channel for your own business.

This could include:

• Services: Coaching, consulting, graphic design, copywriting, one-on-one training sessions.
• Digital Products: Ebooks, online courses, templates, paid workshops, stock photos.
• Physical Products: Merch, handmade goods, art prints, anything from your own e-commerce store.

The key here is balance. The 80/20 principle works well: 80% of your content should be pure value (tips, insights, entertaining thoughts), and 20% can be promotional. This makes sure your audience doesn't feel like they're being constantly sold to. When you do promote, tie it directly to the free value you provide.

Example: A fitness coach consistently posts threads with home workout tips, nutrition myths, and motivational thoughts. Once or twice a week, they can post: "Loving the engagement on my recent thread about sticking to a workout habit. If you want a more personalized plan to hit your goals, I just opened up 3 new spots in my monthly coaching program. Link in bio for details!"

Building an Audience to Monetize Elsewhere

You can use your Threads presence as a powerful engine to grow an asset you fully control: an email list or a private community.

• Email List/Newsletter: A newsletter (on platforms like Substack, ConvertKit, or Ghost) allows you to deliver content directly to your most loyal followers. You can monetize it through a paid tier, sponsorships, or by promoting your products/services in the emails. Use a compelling "lead magnet" - like a free PDF guide, checklist, or template - to encourage sign-ups.
• Paid Community: For creators with a highly engaged audience, a paid community on platforms like Circle, Discord, or Patreon can be a great income stream. You offer exclusive content, direct access to you, AMAs, or a place for like-minded people to connect in exchange for a monthly subscription fee.

Your "ask" on Threads is simple and low-pressure: "That was a quick take, but I break down this full concept in my newsletter this Sunday. Sign up via the link in my bio so you don’t miss it."

Final Thoughts

Getting paid from Threads isn't about finding a magic growth hack. It's about combining brand-building with smart monetization by building an engaged niche audience, sharing genuine value, and strategically guiding your followers toward both direct and indirect revenue opportunities.

That level of consistent effort can be demanding. We've found that batching content and building a reliable schedule is essential to staying on track without burning out. To help with this, we built a visual planning calendar inside of Postbase that allows you to see all your scheduled content for Threads (and all your other platforms) in one place. It helps you stay consistent so you can focus on building your community and growing your income.